“Oh, is that so? I understand now, don’t worry, I will handle it well.”

“Have you been promoted to Brigadier General? Congratulations, Colonel Sean—no, I should call you Brigadier General Sean now. Are you going to be transferred to the New World next? Congratulations, congratulations! Hopefully, we can meet again in the New World, the new Colonel of Roguetown? I understand clearly now, don’t worry, I will handle it well.”

Xia Che casually tossed the disconnected Den Den Mushi to Miss Robin beside him, then frowned and fell into deep thought.

The call he just received was from his partner, the former base commander of Roguetown, Brigadier General Sean.

Although Brigadier General Sean wasn’t particularly capable, he wasn’t stubborn either; he didn’t adhere to the so-called absolute justice, but he also wasn’t overly corrupt or greedy.

According to his own words, he was just an ordinary person with limited capabilities; as long as he could safeguard his jurisdiction and protect the civilians within it, that was enough.

He had cooperated well with Brigadier General Sean for many years, and to be honest, Xia Che felt a bit reluctant about Sean’s departure.

As for the so-called inspection team... Based on the information Sean transmitted to him, it seemed that he had been using a gang of ruthless pirates—the Mok Pirates—to extort military funds for quite a few years, which made the higher-ups suspicious that he was scamming military funds.

After all, the Navy Headquarters was well aware of the situation in the East Sea.

Thanks to a certain naval hero frequently returning to his hometown to visit, there weren’t any particularly powerful pirate groups in this sea area.

And what about their 16th division?

In recent years, they hadn’t captured any pirate groups; they had been chasing one pirate group for nearly three years, tracking them from zero bounty to thirty million.

Moreover, for the past three years, they had been crying poor, claiming heavy losses and outdated equipment, asking for military funds for three whole years.

For so many years, they had been pursuing just one pirate group, and for a pirate as formidable as that, while other divisions didn’t cause a stir, only your 16th division is being bullied?

Even though they were already strong enough to enter the Grand Line, they just wouldn’t go?

What’s going on?

What kind of grudge could this be?

Therefore, after repeatedly requesting military funds, the higher-ups also discovered something was off. After discussions among the relevant departments, they had serious doubts that their 16th division was scamming military funds!

“What to do? What to do? I heard the Navy inspection team has already arrived at the 16th division!” Nami said, pacing back and forth in panic as she looked at Xia Che, who was deep in thought. After hesitating for a moment, she finally gritted her teeth and said, “Let’s go out to sea! Or we can become pirates together! I’ll steer the ship, and we can run away together. With my skills, we can definitely evade the Navy’s pursuit!”

As she spoke, she looked up in despair.

“I really don’t want to be locked up in prison at a young age~”

However, upon hearing Nami’s words, Xia Che looked at her with a strange yet comforting expression and said, “Don’t worry, even if they are going to catch someone, it will only be me. You’re just a sergeant in the division, and you haven’t registered with the headquarters, so the Navy probably doesn’t even know you’re a sergeant in the 16th division.”

Both Robin and Nami hadn’t registered; Robin due to... her identity, while Nami hadn’t had time to report yet.

Moreover, a sergeant in the division was insignificant to the headquarters; whether registered or not made no difference, as they wouldn’t be going to the headquarters for further training.

As soon as he finished speaking...

“What are you talking about?” Nami seemed enraged by Xia Che’s words as she grabbed his collar. “I’m so worried, yet you’re still saying this. Didn’t you invite me to be your partner? How infuriating! I don’t want to become a pirate either, but there’s no other way now.”

While saying this, she glared at Xia Che.

This guy...

Really infuriating, she thought, believing that she might just quit and wouldn’t board his ship next time he invited her.

“That’s right, Colonel Xia Che. We know you’re not a bad person, but right now…” Kenji, the captain of the Cocoa Yasi Town security team beside her, looked at the angry Nami, sighed inwardly, and said worriedly, “If it really comes down to it, let’s follow Nami’s suggestion and run quickly! Everyone will help stall the Navy to buy us some time.”

“Yes! Colonel, you should run! I heard that naval hero has also arrived.”

“Don’t worry, we will definitely keep an eye on Cocoa Yasi Town. Everyone will always remember your kindness, Colonel.”

“Alright, I’ve told you not to worry.” Xia Che patted Nami’s hand and helplessly stopped everyone’s persuasion.

He understood everyone’s concerns.

But right now...

“It’s not that serious.” Glancing at the crowd, Xia Che tapped his fingers on the table. Once everyone quieted down, he said expressionlessly, “I will handle it well. Everyone, go ahead and get back to work.”

After a slight pause, he added, “If things really don’t work out, I will run away as everyone suggested.”

Upon hearing his words, everyone felt relieved.

They were all quite nervous about the suddenly appearing inspection team; they didn’t want their benefactor to be captured just like that.

Clearly, Colonel Xia Che was a good person, driving away the pirates and the vile Navy, allowing everyone to have enough to eat. How could he be captured?

But since Colonel Xia Che said so, they could only accept it. Worried about disturbing him, even though everyone was still somewhat concerned, they quietly went about their tasks to avoid adding to Colonel Xia Che’s worries.

“Do you really have a plan?” Nami rubbed her slightly red hand, blew on it, and looked at Xia Che, saying with annoyance, “You were so rough! It hurts! If it really doesn’t work, we should run. That’s a naval hero, Robin, you should also persuade the BOSS!”

However,

“The BOSS is a smart person; we don’t need to worry.” Unlike the others, Robin, who was leisurely sipping tea and reading, didn’t seem worried at all. She smiled slightly, raised her head, and said gracefully, “Besides, I’m just a little secretary; how could the BOSS listen to me?”

Sighing, she shook her head.

“If it really comes down to it, we’ll just have to find a new boss.”

“……”

What an odd way to put it.

Xia Che rolled his eyes but continued, “It’s just a suspicion; the headquarters does not have concrete evidence yet. We are the Navy that upholds justice; how could we do such things?”

However, in response to his words, Nami merely rolled her eyes. As a navigator, she had navigated on the Mok ship; how could she not know what was going on?

This guy was even trying to deceive himself!

“Ahem.” Seeing Nami’s expression, Xia Che cleared his throat and continued earnestly, “Every cent of military funding we request is done according to regulations; it’s legal and compliant. The Mok Pirates are ruthless and the Navy’s 16th division simply can’t bear it, so it’s normal to ask for a bit more money to buy equipment. This is all for the maintenance of the seas!”

He wasn’t worried about Karp; that guy’s past was even dirtier than his. He wasn’t a real pirate and hadn’t done anything bad.

As long as he wanted to run, he believed this slacker wouldn’t really try his hardest to catch him, just like with Axe Emperor.

If it really came down to it... he would just run away.

Having operated here for so long, he had plenty of ways to escape if he needed to.

Compared to Karp, what worried him more was that Smoker guy; he enforced the law with absolute impartiality and was serious about his duties. If he wanted to catch someone, he would go all out.

Of course,

He didn’t worry about Smoker’s current strength.

After all, it wouldn’t be so easy to catch him. If possible, he didn’t want to just go out to sea and become a pirate hiding and running away. Moreover...

Xia Che crossed his hands under his chin, a serious expression on his angular face. “I suspect a significant figure is about to emerge in the East Sea; the Mok Pirates... they are a gang of ruthless and vicious pirates!”

As long as they hadn’t captured Mok, who could say he was colluding with pirates?

Saying this, he directly pulled out his Den Den Mushi and dialed a number, speaking in a serious tone, “Hello, is this Mok?”

“Boss!” A loud voice came from the other end, “I’m on my way to the Conomi Islands! Udo is on the ship too, along with a few new guys I haven’t seen before; are they your new recruits?”

Saying this cheerfully, he continued, “On the way, I’m sailing a shabby ship to the Conomi Islands, and I’ll let them board directly. Oh, by the way, Boss, why did you call me?”

“... I had something to do just now, but it’s fine now! I’m hanging up; if there’s nothing else, don’t call me Boss from now on.”

“???”

What does the Boss mean by that?

But before the bewildered Mok could say anything,

“Beep, beep, beep~”

The Den Den Mushi was directly hung up.

Xia Che:...

Silently looking at the Den Den Mushi in his hand, he then sighed deeply, “What a mess!”

...

Let’s move the time slightly forward.

Before Xia Che and the others held their meeting, in the waters near the 16th division in the East Sea.

A huge pirate ship was slowly sailing on the calm sea surface.

If anyone saw the pirate flag with fish bones flying, they would understand that it belonged to the Mok Pirates, a ruthless pirate gang that had been a thorn in the side of the Navy’s 16th division and had eluded capture for many years.

At this moment,

The clearly deep-drafted pirate ship’s deck seemed to be carrying some heavy cargo.

“Ahchoo!”

A huge sneeze sounded.

“Boss.” A small fry from the Mok Pirates looked curiously at the burly, nearly three-meter-tall, bald giant who was rubbing his nose and said, “The 16th division is right ahead; should we go visit?”

However,

“Visit what? Don’t forget we’re pirates now.” In response to his subordinate’s inquiry, Mok directly slapped the hand rubbing his nose onto the back of the small fry’s head, “Don’t go causing trouble for Boss Xia Che; let’s first unload our cargo in Cocoa Yasi Town before we check in on Boss Xia Che!”

As someone who had been personally raised by Boss Xia Che, he was quite clear about Boss Xia Che’s rules. Although it wouldn’t matter if they went now, there was no need to create trouble for Boss Xia Che.

As soon as he finished speaking,

The small fry, who had just been slapped on the back of his head, pouted in grievance but understood Mok’s meaning. However...

He pointed ahead and said with a hint of grievance, “But there’s a small boat coming out from the 16th division; shouldn’t we check it out?”

“What small boat?” Hearing his subordinate’s words, Mok was momentarily stunned. He looked up toward the 16th division and indeed saw a small boat slowly sailing on the sea surface, seemingly headed for Cocoa Yasi Town.

Coming from the 16th division?

Sailing a small boat; could something be wrong?

Mok pondered for a moment, rubbed his bald head, and said, “We’re all brothers; let’s go ask if they’ve run into any trouble. That small boat will take forever to reach Cocoa Yasi Town!”

With a wave of his hand, he commanded, “Bring the ship closer, let’s see if they need help.”